Minister avoids direct answer on alleged donkey meat sale in Islamabad

Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain avoided giving a clear response regarding allegations of donkey meat being sold in Islamabad during a session of the National Assembly.

Raising the issue, PPP MNA Shazia Sobia Soomro questioned who was responsible for monitoring reports that donkey meat was being served in the federal capital.

In reply, Rana Tanveer refrained from addressing the allegation directly and stated that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of provincial governments.

He said that Punjab had taken the lead by establishing the first food authority in the country, adding that most issues related to donkey hides and meat are provincial subjects.

He explained that following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, these responsibilities were devolved to the provinces.

The minister further stated that such matters are overseen by district food authorities rather than the Ministry of National Food Security. He also remarked that, in some cases, restaurants use meat from dead chickens for profit-driven purposes.

Referring to the 18th Amendment, Rana Tanveer said that whenever the amendment is discussed, reactions become emotional.

He added that if everything was functioning perfectly after the amendment, then incidents such as the recent fire in Karachi would also have to be termed a success—an assertion that, he implied, was clearly not the case.